CustodyStress
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Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-01258

Estate access failure — hardware wallet (2024)

Blocked
Case description
A 2024 probate case in California involved a deceased holder whose will mentioned 'Bitcoin in a cold wallet' as part of their estate. The executor located three hardware wallet devices in the deceased's home. None were labelled. The seed phrases for none of the devices had been documented anywhere accessible. The executor engaged a technical consultant who attempted to access the devices using PINs suggested by the family—birth years, significant dates—but was unsuccessful on all three devices. Trezor's security model locked the devices after 16 incorrect PIN attempts; the executor was unable to attempt further access without risk of permanent wipe.
Custody context
Stress conditionOwner death
Custody systemHardware wallet (single key)
OutcomeBlocked
DocumentationUnknown
Year observed2024
CountryUnited States
Structural dependencies observed
Single point of failure
What this illustrates
There was only one way in. When that path was gone, so was access. Access was not recoverable.
Outcome interpretation
Access was not possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Privately Reported
Evidence type
News article
Evidence link
https://anthonyspark.com/estate-planning-for-bitcoin/
Related cases involving owner death
The estate value at 2025 Bitcoin prices was approximately $2.3 million.
Hardware wallet (single key) · 2025 Survives
The specialist was able to identify the correct derivation path and successfully
Hardware wallet (single key) · 2025 Survives
Owner death — hardware wallet (2025)
Hardware wallet (single key) · 2025 Blocked
119 cases involve owner death 274 cases involve hardware wallet (single key) View archive statistics →
This archive documents observed custody survivability failures. It does not attempt to document all Bitcoin losses or security incidents. Submit a case
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Framework references
Where Bitcoin Custody Intersects Legal and Fiduciary Authority
Where custody creates gaps in estate planning, fiduciary duty, and professional responsibility.
Professional Scope Boundary Matrix
What each professional or product covers, what they do not, and where gaps form between them.
The Independent Assessment Layer in Bitcoin Custody
How independent diagnostic layers emerge when multiple parties depend on shared infrastructure.
Terms guide
Outcome terms
Survives
Access remained possible under the reported conditions.
Constrained
Access remained possible, but only with delay, dependence, or significant difficulty.
Blocked
Access was not possible under the reported conditions.
Indeterminate
There was not enough information to determine the outcome.
Structural terms
Single-person knowledge
Recovery depended on information or capability held by one individual who was unavailable.
Institutional dependence
Recovery depended on a third-party institution or service that was inaccessible or uncooperative.
Documentation gap
Recovery depended on instructions that were missing, incomplete, or unclear.
Authority mismatch
The person with legal authority to act did not have operational access, or vice versa.